Liebster Award

Hey people,

I got a shiny new award thanks to Natasha @ Sew Short & Crafty.  I think I may have gotten one before but it's been a tiny eon ago if I did and I'm not going to make you go looking for that information.  Instead I'm going to answer her questions and figure out who to nominate after I share more random facts about myself than you probably ever wanted to know like ever.  So without further adieu here is more information about me, myself and I.

1. How long does it take you to wash your hair (full wash day routine)? It takes anywhere from 3 hours to 10 hours depending on how long I take with my prepoo.

2. What is your #1 hair tip? Be kind to your hair and be careful with trends.  Yes it may work for 10 other people but your hair may hate it.  Do the extras at night to take care of your hair.

3. What’s the worst product you’ve ever tried?  I am one of the few people who genuinely get no benefit from Shea Moisture products.  My hair didn't look or feel any better after using any of their products.

4. What is your #1 hair regret? Not starting my healthy hair journey sooner and not paying attention to the whole M&S process.

5. What is your favorite kitchen product to put in your hair?  I don't think I have one.  I used to add in aloe vera juice and I like Olive Oil in my Elasta QP but it comes in the product.

6. Who is your current favorite blogger?  I can't pick a favorite because people have added something at different stages of my journey.  Tracy @ Kiss, Jen @ Just Grow Already and Nadege @ Relaxed Hair Health would be among my favorites

7. Why did you start your hair journey? I was tired of my hair being healthy and strong until it got to my neck and started breaking like nobody's business.  After talking it over with my hair stylist we picked the new relaxing point and started working on better products and practices for me.

8. Are you relaxed, natural, or texlaxed? Relaxed

9. What is your current hair length goal? Bra strap length would be great

10. How long is your hair currently? Shoulder length but longer in the front and sides than the back

11. What is your favorite protective style?  I like flexi sets.  My hair is still technically down but my ends are off my shoulders

Twelve Random Facts:

1. I am a middle child and only girl if you look from dad's side of the family (oldest and only girl from mom's side)
2. Prince is like my musical godfather and I love him dearly
3. My music collection looks like I have multiple personality disorder but I promise I'm ok
4. I love to bake and cook
5. I am highly competitive in nerdy pursuits
6. I am in the process of making my own pickles
7. I enjoy making my own ice cream
8. I bought my tablet mostly for reading books while traveling and on vacation
9. I am one of the biggest tomboys I know with the rare exception of my vintage leanings
10. I used to run track and play volleyball
11. I tend to talk in therapist speak even when I don't mean to
12. I have an irritating tick about numbers being even when I tip or play games.  8s must become 10s or 15s lol

Rules for those that choose to play:

• read the post
• copy the questions
• create an award post
• answer the questions

I nominate:

Relaxed Thairapy
Hard Mashona Type
GhanianEmprezz

Good Morning Sunshine

Thank you to Phoenix for the nomination.  I tend to just ramble over here so I don't think of my blog or me as being on the radar for most folks.  I greatly appreciate the attention and being proven wrong.  Here are the questions she posed for her nominees.  And based on what I've seen on other blogs I may be one of the last to be nominated this go round.  SO if you are reading and you haven't been tagged, guess what you are IT kid. 

1. Your favourite song at the moment and why? Sam Smith's rendition of How Will I Know by Whitney Houston.  It's freaking gorgeous.  No idea where he came from but that boy can sing. 

2. TV show that you would recommend to anyone to binge watch? I don't recommend binge watching, it makes your brain mushy but I'd opt for cartoons over reality tv most days.

3. What injustice in this world makes your insides burn with rage and sadness?  Stupidity makes me most upset but hurting kids on any level should mean swift and painful death.

4. What is your hidden talent? I can read people really well and periodically manipulate them if I get bored.  I try not to get that bored.

5. What is your guilty pleasure? I like baking a lot.  And I am a great project starter, I need to work on completing them.

6. Describe one room in your dream home - remember money is in abundance in this little architectural fantasy.  Massive kitchen with farm sinks, double ovens to bake with, a stove with six eyes,  side by side fridge that has extra storage space, a kitchen island with a sink, seats, a quick prep station, cast iron pans and top of the line options for baking.  I'd have great kitchen electrics from Cuisinart and Kitchen Aid (my mixer now, a better food processor, and one of the large ice cream makers that don't need a prep of any kind).

7. What was your personal motivation behind the decision to go on a healthy hair journey?  I was tired of my hair growing to a certain point, breaking and having to start all over.

8. Who is your favourite Disney princess? Meh really don't have one but I like Merida's spunk.

9. What is your favourite city in the world? Paris

10. How long is your hair right now and what is your ultimate hair length goal? It's shoulder length but rarely on it because I have it curled up most days.  Bra strap length would be ideal, enough to play with in styles I really like but not so much that I want to cry every time I wash it.

11. Who is your favourite Avenger? Is Iron Man an Avenger?  If so then yeah him if not then Thor would work.

And here are your questions if you made it this far

1. Do you watch the ID channel (investigation discovery) and if so what is your favorite show?
2. Is there an Indie artist you think other people should know about?
3. If you had to choose what concert to attend forever and ever, who would be in your lineup and why?
4. Have you ever thought of dying your hair your favorite color?
5. Better aging action actor, Bruce Willis or Liam Neeson or Sylvester Stallone?
6. Your favorite cartoon?
7. A movie you watch every time it comes on tv no matter what?
8. Who and what would you take with you to your own private island?
9. Best thing about living where you do now?
10. Is there anything better than the smell of fresh sheets?
11. Do you remember your childhood nickname and if so does it still make you smile or does it traumatize you?

It's an honor just to be nominated lol

Well lookey there, two awards in the same weekend.  I appreciate it because it means people are reading all this randomness and not running for the hills.  First let me thank Vee over @ Growing In Style.  She's a new fashion/hair blogger who you should really take a peak at when you get a chance.  It's always good to support one another when we can.  So again thanks Vee.

1. Thank the Blogger that nominated me.
2. Share 7 random facts about me.
3. Nominate 15 bloggers who are relatively new to blogging.
4. Let nominated bloggers know they have been nominated.
5. Add the Versatile Blogger Award to my post.

1. I am totally obsessed with Hollywood Heights.  It's a teenage but more entertaining and less incestuous version of Young and the Restless on Teen Nick.  I have the series set to record so if I forget it's on at 7 that I don't miss it.
2. I have more books than pairs of shoes, I hate shoes.
3. I have only had Hyundais for the last 11 years.  Two were horribly destroyed by bad drivers but I love the company because they do great work, are always willing to listen and fix things in a nanosecond.
4. I love vintage clothing, I need to get rid of my belly so I can wear some of them.  My boobs and butt would work great with them lol.  
5. While I hate shoes, I love vintage shoes and if I can find a few pair that don't cost a small mint I'd stock up on them.
6. Caffenated products make me sleepy, all of them, which is why I don't take anything with it if I can handle it.
7. I can probably recite almost the entire dialogue to The Princess Bride.

I Tag(everyone from earlier and a few more):

1. Good Hair Diaries
2. My Own Beautician
3. Wishful Lengths
4. Relaxed Long Way 2 Grow
5. Do Your Thing Girl
6. Ghanian Emprezz
7. Shoulder Length and Beyond
8. Healthy Hair Care and More by Special K
9. Pretty Simple
10. Hair I Am World
11. Pound Cake
12. Ebony's Garden
13. Just a Soul....
14. Wondrous World of Parenting
15. Sdestra

Thanks for your consideration

Sue me it's late.  I don't have a catchy title tonight.  Last night before bed I saw that Naturally Nae of Naturally Curly Kinky had nominated me for the Liebster Award.  It's a blogging award that is for blogs with less than 200 followers--it sort of like a highlight reel for those of us that are just getting started but seem to have a positive or helpful perspective.  Well i guess I shouldn't say before bed because I went to bed and wasn't able to sleep so I'm up again and blogging.

How the Liebester Award works:

1. Each person must post 11 random things about themselves

2. Answer the 11 questions that the tagger set for you.

3. Choose 11 bloggers who you would like to give the Liebester Award.

4. Create 11 questions for the bloggers you have tagged with the award to answer.

Eleven Random As Hell Things About Me

1. I love statistics and took two more stats classes than I had to in order to get my degree
2. I think I've seen Prince in concert around 15 times and when he had the last Celebration I tagged along with him and 300 other people to a theater that was nice enough to open so that we could assemble in several rooms and watch Minority Report
3. I hate shopping LITERALLY and can start to feel sick if I do it too often or for too long
4. I watch cartoons more than live tv, unless there's a good marathon on the ID channel which is addicting
5. I like true crime shows but hate Dexter which I find creepy as all hell
6. My grandmother used to say I wasn't black because I'd eat Chinese or Italian food before traditional soul food
7. I have a nickname that only my dad could call me so I haven't heard it in the last 11 years.  Anyone that tries can't finish saying it without me giving them the evil eye.
8. When I really want to concentrate on something I need to have the tv going as white noise and possibly the radio
9. I'm a military brat that at last count lived in four different countries (including the US) and 7 different states
10. I have four tattoos all hidden under my clothing so you won't see them unless I want you to
11. I am totally obsessed with cupcakes right now.

Questions from Naturally Nae

1. Who inspires you the most? I don't think I have a who but my brother makes me smile and proud of him all of the time if that counts.

2. What encouraged you to start blogging? I wanted to have better documentation of my life and my hair journey.  When I journal I can shove that aside when I get anxious or sad and I feel more responsible to blog.

3. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? I don't have a location but I'd like to visit somewhere secluded with great internet connections, limited phone access and a kitchen to die for so I could cook, relax and clear my head.

4. What is your favorite dish to make and why? Even though I don't make it often lasagna.  It feels homey and like a dish that must be made with love.  And my house smells great while it's cooking.

5. In school, what was your favorite subject and why? It ended up being psychology because I like to think about how people think and to help them.

6. What is your favorite song and why is it your fav? I have several by several different people, kind of depends on my mood but Prince, Christina Aguilera and Maroon 5 get the most play on my Zune because they sing most of my favorites.

7. If you could read one book over and over again, which book would it be? And This Too Shall Pass-I just love it, was well written wasn't overly dramatic and didn't pull one of those Tyler Perry endings

8.  If your life were a movie, which movie would it be and why? Under the Cherry Moon maybe, it's quirky, in black and white, is a kind of corny tragic love story where there is no happy ending

9. What two items do you never leave the house without? My cell phone and Zune

10. if you could meet anyone in the world, who would it be and why? Prince, I want to talk to someone who has had a career that spanned the last four decades and can play a gazillion instruments

11. If you had access to a time machine, would you travel to the future or to the past and why? I'd go back to the past, probably when I was about six or seven years old when my brother was old enough to play with, my parents still liked each other, our house rocked and all was right with the world.  And I'd try to get dad to write down the African spiderman story he kept telling us that we can't remember now.

Questions for my nominees

• What's your favorite Prince song and why?
• What was your major in college?
• What's the last thing you do before bed at night?
• Old school Scooby Doo or new school Scooby Doo?
• E. Lynn Harris, Terri McMillian, Toni Morrison or anyone else?
• What's your favorite number and why?
• What's the last thing you baked?
• Do you like your job?
• Soda or water?
• When's the last time you told someone thank you for something unexpected?
• The Voice or American Idol?

I Tag:

1. Good Hair Diaries
2. My Own Beautician
3. Wishful Lengths
4. Relaxed Long Way 2 Grow
5. Do Your Thing Girl
6. Ghanian Emprezz
7. Shoulder Length and Beyond
8. Healthy Hair Care and More by Special K
9. Pretty Simple
10. Hair I Am World
11. Pound Cake